Psalm 49:14-20

14 As sheep they are appointed ¹for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the ²upright shall rule over them in the morning, And their form shall be for Sheol ³to consume So that they have no habitation.

15 But God will ⁴redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For ⁵He will receive me. Selah.

16 Do not be afraid ⁶when a man becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased;

17 For when he dies he will ⁷carry nothing * away; His glory will not descend after him.

18 Though while he lives he ⁸congratulates himself - And though men praise you when you do well for yourself-

19 He shall ⁹go to the generation of his fathers; They will never * * see ¹⁰the light.

20 ¹¹Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, Is ¹²like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 49:14-20 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Aben Ezra says this psalm is a very excellent one, since in it is explained the Light of the world to come, and of the rational and immortal soul; and Kimchi is of opinion that it respects both this world and that which is to come: and indeed it treats of the vanity of trusting in riches: of the insufficiency of them for the redemption of the soul; of the short continuance of worldly honour and substance; of the certainty of death, and of the resurrection of the dead. And the design of it is to expose the folly of trusting in uncertain riches, and to comfort the people of God under the want of them.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 9:17
• 2. Daniel 7:18; Malachi 4:3; 1 Corinthians 6:2; Revelation 2:26
• 3. Job 24:19
• 4. Psalms 16:10; Psalms 56:13; Hosea 13:14
• 5. Genesis 5:24; Psalms 16:11; Psalms 73:24
• 6. Psalms 37:7
• 7. Psalms 17:14; 1 Timothy 6:7
• 8. Deuteronomy 29:19; Psalms 10:3, 6; Luke 12:19
• 9. Genesis 15:15
• 10. Job 33:30; Psalms 56:13
• 11. Psalms 49:12
• 12. Ecclesiastes 3:19

Footnotes

• [a] I.e. the nether world
• [b] I.e. the nether world
• [c] Lit "Away from his habitation"
• [d] Lit "hand"
• [e] I.e. the nether world
• [f] Or "wealth"
• [g] Or "wealth"
• [h] Lit "his soul"
• [i] Lit "You;" or "It"
• [j] Lit "honor"
• [k] Or "animals"
• [l] Lit "are destroyed"